Mourners weep uncontrollably as the victims are buried
Tears, Anger as 16 Otukpo Attack Victims Are Buried in Benue
By Frontline Reporters
Tears, grief and anger engulfed Efeyi community in Ugboju District of Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State on Saturday as 16 victims of a deadly attack were laid to rest in a mass burial.
The victims were reportedly killed when suspected armed herders invaded the community in the early hours of July 28, sending residents fleeing in panic. Witnesses said the attackers stormed Efeyi between 4am and 5am and opened fire, killing 16 people in what residents described as a brutal and unprovoked assault.
The mass burial drew family members, community leaders, traditional rulers, political figures and religious leaders, who gathered to mourn the victims and demand an end to the recurring violence. The ceremony was marked by uncontrollable weeping as the coffins were brought to the burial ground.
A resident, Aboyi Owi, described the funeral as one of the darkest moments in the history of Efeyi, blaming the killings on what he called the failure of authorities to adequately protect vulnerable communities.
“The funeral was so touching. The atmosphere is full of sorrow, tears and anger because this was an avoidable death if those responsible for ensuring the security of lives and property were alive to their responsibilities,” Owi said.
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He lamented the continued attacks on communities by armed criminal groups, urging the government to take decisive action to protect citizens. “For as long as we allow armed herders to keep tormenting Nigerians, there will be no end to the mass killing of Nigerians by the criminal gangs. This is just the saddest day for the people of Efeyi community,” he added.
Prayers were offered for the repose of the victims’ souls, while mourners observed moments of silence in their honour. A Catholic priest led the final prayers before the coffins were lowered into the graves, amid heartbreaking wails from bereaved families and sympathisers.
